That is just so much rubbish. I have my own software (Java based) that uses IB API. I hadn't updated the API for a long time (more than a year). A couple of days ago, I downloaded latest API. It took me all of half an hour to make a couple of minor code changes, and I was up and running. You should check your facts before spreading this sort of disinformation.
That might be your experience. But you are out off line to say that I'm badly informed. For as long as I'm an IB client (more than 5 years) I read nearly all ET-threads about the software I use as well as the IB-forum. Many problems are reported (and eventually solved), and many are due to IB's not-so-well-tested highly frequent releases. You can check these facts yourself of course, but here are some: Here is one for Ninja: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/smf/index.php?topic=83993.0 Here some recent ET threads (especially the posts from "hoi" are interesting): http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=158454&perpage=6&pagenumber=1 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160107&perpage=6&pagenumber=1 Further I have to say that, because of the bad press I read the passed years. I didn't dare all those years not to try Ninja or ButtonTrader. I simply didn't trust it. Only recently I switched from TWS to ButtonTrader, and regret it I didn't earlier. From the start (8 months ago) it's rock solid. So the developer handles very well the TWS-glitshes.
tt has a feature that once u place a limit order on the dom it says what place in the queue of orders u are. also a market profile like tt xstudy is nice too.
You might also want to check DinosaurTech which is a wrapper to the IB API written in C# It is maintained to take into account IB's upgrades so you should not have to worry about that at least and it would make the IB interfacing in your project simpler anyway. http://www.dinosaurtech.com/
I've used them all my friend, and these guys has a no nonsense free, no bs full function 30 day trial. If you use it for 30 days you'll never use another product.